Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,576 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,752 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,143 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,001 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Chattanooga, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Chattanooga, TN by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$16.42 $16.42

23.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$80.7 $80.7

24.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$10.82 $10.82

11.28%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$4.91 $4.91

17.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.45 $2.45

21.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.16 $2.16

10.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.02 $6.02

19.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.33 $7.33

9.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.03 $1.03

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.63 $3.63

13.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.84 $4.84

9.30%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$4.24 $4.24

7.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$13.84 $13.84

4.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$13.67 $13.67

8.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$12.53 $12.53

56.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.22 $6.22

-12.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.52 $1.52

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.35 $4.35

-3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.66 $3.66

25.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.46 $3.46

-28.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.21 $3.21

-15.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.29 $2.29

7.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.06 $3.06

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$7.34 $7.34

101.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$18.09 $18.09

-15.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.91 $1.91

23.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.40 $3.40

10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$4.02 $4.02

-38.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

$49.86 $49.86

48.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.77 $1.77

87.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.53 $1.53

-10.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$23.73 $23.73

3.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.72 $0.72

45.83%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

28.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$186 $186

$142 $142

31.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$55.8 $55.8

12.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$71.1 $71.1

-5.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$39.89 $39.89

88.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$12.54 $12.54

20.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,023 $2,023

$1,007 $1,007

100.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$24.7K $24.7K

61.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$41.94 $41.94

53.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$32.17 $32.17

59.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$98.7 $98.7

-2.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$111 $111

32.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,502 $1,502

55.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,277 $1,277

22.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$3,562 $3,562

31.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$2,084 $2,084

34.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$2,278 $2,278

79.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$2,241 $2,241

18.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

$3,874 $3,874

26.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,502 in Chattanooga, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Chattanooga, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $421 – making Chattanooga, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Chattanooga, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Chattanooga, TN, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,754 in Chattanooga, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chattanooga, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 48% less in Chattanooga, TN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chattanooga, TN costs $2,503 versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chattanooga, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.